A short historical overview on the use of lead

Abstract

This historical introduction to the use of lead in art and technology was originally written to give context to lead conservation studies by the authors. The intention is to bring many rel- evant studies on lead together starting a discussion, which stresses that it was once impossi- ble to imagine a life without lead, and its alloys and compounds. Despite its environmental and health problems, lead remains ubiquitous even in modern technology for example in roofing, as an important component in low melting point or low friction alloys, in batteries and munitions